The main character is Anthony the author. He's characterized as the average solider in boot camp and later he tries to deal with being a solider in the desert. He is in STA (surveillance and target acquisition platoon). He is in perfect physical condition while in service. He had an approximated 30 hours of exercise every week. Compared to when he is not in service he had about 30 hours a year. Anthony is a character that is excited yet afraid yet has that crazy side in him. He says "I want to kill those Iraqi mother*".
The drill instructor in Jarhead is another character that influences his life in the military because the drill instructor is a jerk and he gets the expression that the military will treat him bad. Also its Anthony's first time dealing with the military so his first impression of it is that its going to be bad for him. The link below is a video from the Military Channel that talks about the Marines training and past but the part thats relevent to Jarhead are the parts that deal with the drill instructors. Theres other parts in this clip that helps people see what the military is like. An example of how the drill instructor acts is in page 26 where the recruits are writing and the drill instructer starts to yell at a recruit and says, "I can't believe my * eyes! Did you piss your trousers, boy? Did you piss your trousers like a little girl?!" One disrcription of the DI is found on page 27. "Burke, like most DIs, didnt speak as much as growl. his chest was as thick as a butcher block. His eyes looked dead, as though he'd lost them for a few years and found them washed up on the beach."(sam wagner)
The drill instructor in Jarhead is another character that influences his life in the military because the drill instructor is a jerk and he gets the expression that the military will treat him bad. Also its Anthony's first time dealing with the military so his first impression of it is that its going to be bad for him. The link below is a video from the Military Channel that talks about the Marines training and past but the part thats relevent to Jarhead are the parts that deal with the drill instructors. Theres other parts in this clip that helps people see what the military is like. An example of how the drill instructor acts is in page 26 where the recruits are writing and the drill instructer starts to yell at a recruit and says, "I can't believe my * eyes! Did you piss your trousers, boy? Did you piss your trousers like a little girl?!" One disrcription of the DI is found on page 27. "Burke, like most DIs, didnt speak as much as growl. his chest was as thick as a butcher block. His eyes looked dead, as though he'd lost them for a few years and found them washed up on the beach."(sam wagner)
Military Video
Another example of an abusive drill instructor from the movie "Full Metal Jacket" WARNING: harsh language and mild violence